Bears Go Wild
- Updated: September 15, 2026
The Chicago Bears defeated the Carolina Panthers 59-37 in their 2026 NFL season opener on September 13. Led by head coach Ben Johnson, Chicago’s offense exploded for 552 total yards.
The matchup turned into an historic, high-scoring shootout. While the Carolina Panthers kept pace for the first two and a half quarters, the Chicago Bears pulled away late in the third quarter with a 14-point surge in under three minutes.
| Team | 1st Qtr | 2nd Qtr | 3rd Qtr | 4th Qtr | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | – | – | – | – | 59 |
| Carolina Panthers | – | – | – | – | 37 |
Key Performances
- Caleb Williams (QB, Bears): Commanded the offense masterfully, going 21-for-29 with 269 passing yards and two touchdowns, while adding over 60 rushing yards and two scores on the ground.
- D’Andre Swift & Kyle Monangai (RBs, Bears): The duo spear-headed a 291-yard rushing attack. Both running backs surpassed 100 rushing yards in the contest, highlighted by Monangai’s explosive 61-yard touchdown run.
- Bryce Young (QB, Panthers): Despite the loss, Young had a highly productive statistical day, throwing for 361 yards, three passing touchdowns, and scoring once on the ground. [1]
- Jalen Coker (WR, Panthers): Served as Young’s primary target, hauling in 8 receptions for 138 yards and two touchdowns.
Historic Context & Next Steps
The 59 points scored by Chicago marked the highest-scoring season opener in NFL history and the ninth-most points ever scored by a single team in an opening week game.
Moving forward into Week 2, the Bears look to build on their momentum as home favorites against division rivals, the Minnesota Vikings. Meanwhile, the Panthers travel to face the Atlanta Falcons as head coach Dave Canales seeks answers for a defense that surrendered 560 total yards.
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